Names that Peaked in 2017
- Miracle
Origin:
Word name, LatinMeaning:
"wonder, marvel"Description:
A surprisingly popular spiritual name that entered the US Top 500 in 2003. As of 2023, it is still a Top 500 choice, where it fits in with similar bold word names like Chosen, Blessing, and Dream. Miracle is a familiar name in Nigeria too, where it is used as a unisex option.
- Brysen
Origin:
Spelling variation of BrysonDescription:
Writer Bill Bryson may have played some role in popularizing this surname-name, which might be considered a latter-day Brian (or Bryan). We prefer Bryson.
- Leyla
Origin:
Spelling variation of Layla
- Jayde
Origin:
Spelling variation of JadeDescription:
This creative spelling of Jade adds in the trendy y, but it remains much less popular.
- Brayson
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
Also found as Brason, this is one of an army of Jason sound-alikes, which include Cason, Mason, Kaysen, and so on. Stylish, yes; recommended, no.
- Royalty
Origin:
American word nameDescription:
Royalty is a super-hot name for girls, but there's no reason it can't be used for boys too. In fact it is, but only about 5 percent of the time, making it one of those unisex names whose usage is tipped so far toward one gender that it isn't truly unisex. But still, English words are usually not intrinsically gendered so Royalty is perfectly appropriate for boys as well as girls and is one of the fastest-rising unisex names.
- Kyree
Origin:
Spelling variation of KyrieDescription:
This male name uses the popular feminine suffix -ee, so if you're set on this name we'd suggest using Kyrie.
- Nixon
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"son of Nicholas"Description:
A fresher spin on Jaxon, with built-in cool nickname Nix, and a great way to honor an ancestral Nick. But the association with disgraced former president Richard Nixon remains strong, which might explain why this otherwise bang-on-trend surname name has remained under the radar, peaking at #482 in 2017.
- Aadhya
Origin:
HindiMeaning:
"first power"Description:
This beautiful Hindi name made the US Top 1000 in 2016 and has been hopping on and off the bottom of that list since then. Aadhya is one of the many names for the Goddess Durga in Hinduism. Other forms are Aadya and Adya.
- Charlee
Origin:
Variation of Charlie, English diminutive of Charlotte, French "free man"Meaning:
"free man"Description:
Charlie in all its forms has been a popular gender neutral name since the early 2000s and is now given almost equally to girls and boys. While it did once lean more (statistically) masculine, it has been used on girls too since the before the 20th century.
- Shmuel
Origin:
Variation of Samuel, HebrewMeaning:
"told by God"Description:
Shmuel is a Modern Hebrew variation of Samuel used almost exclusively by Orthodox Jewish families. Very popular in Israel, Shmuel also appeared on the US Top 1000 list in 2017, 2022, and 2023 and is given to around 240 boys each year.
- Ayan
Origin:
SomaliMeaning:
"fortune"Description:
The African name Ayan was first seen on the US Top 1000 for boys in 2014. It's both simple and distinctive, a winning combination.
- Belen
Origin:
Spanish place name and form of Bethlehem, Hebrew, TurkishMeaning:
"house of bread; mountainside"Description:
A fast rising choice in the US, Belen is a name with two possible origins. On one hand, it could be a variation — or an anglicization — of Belén, the Spanish form of Bethlehem. This would make it a spiritual choice, connected to the birth place of Jesus.
- Greysen
Description:
Spelling variation of Grayson. Entered the US Top 1000 for the first time in 2016.
- Juelz
Origin:
Modern invented nameDescription:
This attempt to masculinize Jules has made its way into the Top 1000. We recommend using the more traditional spelling, as this one will likely appear dated in a few years' time.
- Aminah
Origin:
ArabicMeaning:
"trustworthy, faithful"Description:
The usage of this Arabic name has been increasing in the US, joining the Top 1000 for the first time in 2015. Aminah bint Wahb was the mother of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
- Kynlee
Origin:
American spelling variation of Kinley, ScottishMeaning:
"fair hero; fair warrior"Description:
Kynlee had its moment in the spotlight during the 2010s, when it entered the US Top 1000 alongside its more popular counterpart Kinley. An All-American style name, it peaked in 2017 when it rose to #552, but it has been in decline ever since.
- Karter
Origin:
Spelling variation of CarterMeaning:
"transporter of goods by cart"Description:
Lovers of the name Carter and the Kardashians method of baby naming have popularized this choice, one of many boys' names starting with K that began life as boys' names starting with C. Karter has been in the charts since 2005, riding on the success of the original Carter. Since 2014, Karter has been just inside the Top 200.
- Braelynn
Origin:
Invented nameDescription:
Like its single "n" sister name (Braelyn), Braelynn is currently enjoying its highest level of popularity. Unlike Braylin and Braylyn, the 'ae' of Braelynn gives the name a Scottish look, making it seem slightly less creative and more sturdy
- Harlee
Origin:
Spelling variation of Harley, EnglishMeaning:
"the long field"Description:
This invented spelling is much less popular than its biker counterpart. Regardless, it entered the US Top 1000 since 2012 and hung on there for more than a decade.
